November 27, 2015

I have grown quite fond of Bioderma, mainly because of their Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution which I'm sure by now you've heard or read about. I have already professed my love for the Sensibio range, and this time I've been putting the Sébium line to the test to see if it can 'wow' me just as much. Namely, I've been using the Sébium Foaming Gel*, Exfoliating Gel* and Pore Refiner* which are suitable for combination to oily skin types with imperfections. I've been sticking to these over the last few weeks and thought I would fill you in on how they have been working for my skin.

November 25, 2015

The countdown to Christmas is officially on, and what better way to celebrate than with a Holiday giveaway? Up for grabs, a trio of beautiful makeup from Tarte Cosmetics, namely the limited edition (and no longer available) Golden Days & Sultry Nights Amazonian Clay Collector's Shadow Palette, the Amazon Bronze Amazonian Clay and Annatto Body Bronzer and the Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick in Foxy. I've been collecting these for a while now and thought it was about time they find a new home. Watch my video below to get a closer look!

November 19, 2015

My blonde lashes are basically non-existent without a good curl and a generous coat (or two) of mascara, so stepping into the wonderful world of false lashes has been rather exciting if you ask me. Now this is not my first encounter with the falsies, but let's just say I can count on my one hand the number of times I've actually worn a pair. My first were these Essence lashes which I hauled way back and got a good few uses out of despite them not being the most comfortable to wear. Then I tried these extravagant paper ones from Omorose Cosmetics, really neat and fun to play with for sure. This brings me to my third ever pair of false lashes, the Make Up For Ever Lash Show Instant Drama in C-705*, part of their new collection of 50 handmade, synthetic fiber lashes. The range includes 27 natural pairs and 23 creative sets - impressive right? Each pair also comes with a latex-free, easy to use lash glue so no need to worry about purchasing one separately.

November 18, 2015

While in the last few months I could get away with not moisturizing my body daily, neglecting this task at this point in time means dealing with a ridiculous amount of skin shedding. To prevent this from happening, I've been exfoliating a lot more and loading up on heavy duty lotions and oils. I also just recently started incorporating the Institut Esthederm Sculpt System High Nutrition Body Balm* into my after shower routine. After just a couple of uses, my skin is looking luminous and feeling silky smooth. Yes you read that right - my skin actually glows after layering this product on. How you ask?

November 16, 2015

A few months ago I was researching the best facial oils to help fade acne scars and rosehip oil kept popping up time and time again. It didn't take too much convincing to try this wondrous oil which by the way was surprisingly easy to find. I started using the Life Flo Pure Rosehip Seed Oil soon after purchasing it from iHerb.com for a ridiculously affordable price. You can of course also get a hold of it at your local health food store too. This natural oil has become a staple in my skincare routine ever since I shared it in my haul and I thought it was about time I shine a spotlight on this gem.

November 13, 2015

I was looking at my bookshelf the other day and reached for Lauren Conrad BEAUTY
- I'm sure most of you remember when this book came out and took the beauty community by storm. I've collected a few beauty reads over the last few years (and even shared my first book review here) and thought it was about time I shared one of my absolute faves! Lauren Conrad has always been a huge inspiration for me - her blog is actually one of the first I ever read and I learned a lot from browsing her website. Not your typical book, think of BEAUTY as an extension of Lauren's blog with a magazine feel to it where she shares her childhood photos and stories, tips, techniques and step by step tutorials. Topics covered include makeup, skincare, hair, nails, health, well being, fitness and much more.

November 12, 2015

I don't think there is ever a time when I don't get excited over makeup. Honestly, whether it's a drugstore or high end brand, my heart is always happy whenever I get the chance to try new beauty items. ARTDECO is one of those brands that has been on my radar for a very long time and I was lucky enough to sample a few items from one of their previous collections last year. I also own one of their liquid liners and waterproof mascaras, so when I read about the new ARTDECO Mystical Forest Collection* released for Fall/Winter 2015, I of course couldn't resist! There are quite a few products in this collection and I will be sharing a few eye and lip products I got to try out.

November 9, 2015

I'm quite the creature of habit when it comes to handbags as I like sticking to neutral shades. You will almost always see me with a grey, black or brown bag slung across my shoulder. About a year ago, I shared a What's In My Bag video featuring my beloved Matt and Nat Tote Bag which I am still obsessed with. My weakness for these types of bags has not gone unnoticed, and my really good friend surprised me for my birthday this past summer with the Angela Roi Palette Light Brown Cross-Body Bag. I had never heard of this brand before, but she went the extra mile to find an everyday vegan leather bag - how sweet is she? As soon as I unwrapped it, it was love at first sight!

November 6, 2015

You know when you find a bunch of products that work well (and look good) together and you can't stop using them? Well that what's been happening lately and I really wanted to share with you all how I achieve a glowing, luminous complexion in just a few easy steps! I also show you what I look like when I've just rolled out of bed in the morning and take you through my hair, skin care and makeup routine. For my hair in the last few months, I've been braiding it at night when it's wet and I find it really helps minimize frizz and gives a nice wave to my strands. My go to skin care as of late has been the Les Soins de Jacynthe line which I love so much I even dedicated a video telling you why! As you will see, I keep my hair and skin care to a minimum in the morning and always spend more time on my makeup.

November 5, 2015

I still can't believe it's already been a month since I got back from Greece! I had the most amazing time in the Mediterranean and the timing could not have been more perfect. I just really needed to get away and make time for myself and people who matter most to me. The change in scenery felt so good and having plenty of time to get outside, be active, explore and learn about the culture was even better than I had hoped for. You can have a read and look back at my trip in my travel post where I share pictures, experiences and more. Naturally, being in Greece I was hoping to find natural skincare (as in, lots of stuff made with olive oil, obviously) but our finds exceeded even my own expectations. I thought I would share all the beauty bits I picked up because I'm always curious when it comes to travel hauls and whatnot.

November 2, 2015

We've all heard how clay masks can improve our skin's texture and appearance, but did you know that a simple DIY green clay mask is probably the cheapest and most effective way to treat acne and oily skin? For years I've been wanting to make my own clay mask and a few months ago while I was at the health food store I perused the natural beauty aisle (as per usual) and finally picked up a bag of pure French green clay powder, on sale for only $6 I might add... such a bargain! You can easily find ready-to-use clay masks in squeeze tubes, but I personally get more satisfaction from making my own (not to mention getting it in powder form is usually cheaper and it will last you much longer since you don't have to worry about the paste drying out). I quickly learned that there are many uses for green clay other than just as a face mask (as in: hair mask, bath soak, to treat scratches and sunburns and the list goes on), but today I wanted to shine a light on its glorious benefits for acneic and oily skin.

November 1, 2015

I love supporting Canadian brands and in the last few months have found amazing, locally made skin care products. A few weeks ago, I was introduced to Les Soins de Jacynthe, a range of 100% natural, plant-based products created by well-known Québec actress and producer Jacynthe René, who is also a health and wellness expert and even has three published books sharing the vegan lifestyle under her belt. She launched her own online magazine (jmagazine.ca) last year and is spreading her wisdom by touring the province and hosting conferences and workshops as well as making numerous media appearances to share her message on becoming your best possible self. I had the opportunity to try a few of her products, namely the Huile nettoyante, démaquillante*, Eau florale de rose* and Le sérum de Jacynthe* which I just adore and I thought, why not share them with you in video form, too!